Spanning 16 km in width, the beautiful Lake Rotorua is the largest of a dozen lakes in the region — and the second largest lake in New Zealand’s North Island.
Lake Rotorua is just a few minutes’ walk from the city centre, making it a popular spot for visitors and locals alike. Its waters and shores offer an array of outdoor activities. Fish for trout, kayak across the waters, take a wildlife walk on the southern shore, and more!
Learn more about Lake Rotorua and discover the best local activities below.
Lake Rotorua overview
Image credit: rotoruanz.com
Surrounded by verdant farmland, native bush, and bubbling geothermal springs, Lake Rotorua features a distinctive colouration stemming from its rich concentrations of sulphur and other volcanic minerals.
Geothermal inputs flow into the lake via streams, and steaming geothermal springs pepper the southern shore. Due to the lake’s high sulphur content and volcanic minerals, its water is an eye-catching dark green-yellow.
Mokoia Island lies at the heart of Lake Rotorua. This rhyolite dome is the nation’s most famous lake island and the centre of the enchanting love story of Hinemoa and Tūtānekai, a legendary Māori love story (more details at the end of this post)!
To the Te Arawa people, the Rotorua Lakes are a taonga (treasure). The Bay of Plenty Regional Council has partnered with the Rotorua Lakes Council and Te Arawa Lakes Trust to roll out the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme, working to remove 320 tonnes of nitrogen from Lake Rotorua by 2032.
- Age: Approximately 200,000 years
- Size: Approximately 12 km from north to south and 10 km from west to east
- Surface area: 79.8 km²
- Depth: 45 metres
Lake Rotorua activities
1. Try trout fishing and catch your dinner
Image credit: fishandgame.org.nz
Lake Rotorua is the most productive trout fishery in the country. As the lake enjoys one of the highest catch rates in the district, it is wildly popular for brown and rainbow trout fishing. March to June is typically considered the best time for fishing in Lake Rotorua.
2. Explore the waters by paddleboard, kayak, or raft
Image credit: rotoruanz.com
You’ll find plenty of water activity operators around Lake Rotorua. If you prefer to go slow, join a stand-up paddleboarding or kayak tour. Looking for exciting adventure activities in Rotorua? Take it up a notch with white-river rafting in the nearby Kaituna River!
3. Enjoy the sunset cruise on the Lakeland Queen
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Take a gentle paddle across Lake Rotorua on a heritage-style vessel, the Lakeland Queen. Enjoy a meal aboard as you pass incredible geothermal landscapes and natural wonders.
4. Experience high-speed spins on the Lake Rotorua Katoa Jet boats
Image credit: katoalakerotorua.co.nz
Propel across Lake Rotorua on a powerful jet boat with 360° spins! You’ll learn all about Lake Rotorua’s most iconic landmarks while experiencing speeds up to 85 km/h. Alternatively, take a jet boat trip from Lake Rotorua to Lake Rotoiti, where you can take a relaxing soak at the Manupirua Hot Springs.
5. Take a helicopter or floatplane tour over Lake Rotorua
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From the shores of Lake Rotorua, experience the thrill of a floatplane or helicopter taking off to the peak of Mount Tarawera, an active volcano. You’ll have spectacular aerial views of the vibrant red volcanic landscape and deep blue lakes that dot the Waimangu Volcanic Valley below.
Rotorua lakefront activities
1. Stroll or bike on the Rotorua lakefront boardwalk
Image credit: rotoruanz.com
The lake boardwalk is perfect for exploring Rotorua’s waterfront on foot or by bike. Well within walking distance of Eat Streat and the Rotorua Night Market, it’s a lovely spot for a scenic post-dinner stroll.
2. See native birds in a geothermal setting at the Sulphur Bay Wildlife Refuge
Image credit: rotoruanz.com
On the south-eastern shore, Sulphur Bay Wildlife Refuge is home to an array of bird species thriving in the active geothermal environment. The water is a milky colour due to the sulphur content. It’s one of the few geothermal sites you can access without charge, so it’s worth visiting if you’re after free things to do in Rotorua.
3. Discover a historical living settlement at Ōhinemutu Māori Village
Image credit: venturenewzealand.co.nz
Ōhinemutu is a Māori settlement chosen for its abundant geothermal activity. Walk around this living village and discover steaming vents, outdoor bathing sheds, and bubbling hot pools in a tranquil environment.
4. Go from land to lake with Rotorua Duck Tours
Image credit: rotoruaducktours.co.nz
Board an amphibious WWII vehicle on a Rotorua City Duck Tour! You’ll pass through Sulphur Point on the edge of Lake Rotorua, before heading into the waters of Lake Tikitapu and Lake Ōkāreka. Rotorua Duck Tours is the only operator of genuine WWII landing craft in New Zealand, making this a unique experience not to be missed.
Frequently asked questions
Can you swim in Lake Rotorua?
Some parts of Lake Rotorua are safe for swimming, while others are less suitable due to high bacteria levels. The water quality of the southern shore (by Rotorua City) is generally unsuitable for swimming.
Which Rotorua lakes can I swim in?
The best Rotorua lakes for swimming are Lake Tarawera and Lake Tikitapu; these have the safest long-term recreational water quality, according to Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA). Lake Rerewhakaaitu and Lake Rotomā are also generally suitable for swimming.
Some sites are more suitable for swimming than others. You can find more information on local swimming safety through LAWA’s Can I Swim Here? page.
What are the 12 Rotorua lakes?
The 12 lakes included in the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme are: Lake Rotorua, Lake Tarawera, Lake Rotoiti, Lake Rotomā, Lake Ōkataina, Lake Rotomahana, Lake Rotoehu, Lake Rerewhakaaitu, Lake Rotokākahi (Green Lake), Lake Ōkāreka, Lake Tikitapu, and Lake Okaro.
Can I tour Mokoia Island?
Mokoia Island, the island in Lake Rotorua, is a bird sanctuary privately owned by the Te Arawa iwi and co-run by the New Zealand Department of Conservation. Tour groups are available through Wai Ora Experiences.
What is the mythology of Lake Rotorua?
Image credit: sunlive.co.nz
Sitting in the centre of the lake crater is Mokoia Island, once formed by lava and is now a wildlife sanctuary. Mokoia Island is the setting of a mythical love story – the tale of Hinemoa and Tūtānekai.
Living on the eastern shores of Lake Rotorua was a beautiful maiden, Hinemoa, who was regarded as sacred, which meant her tribe would choose her husband. Tūtānekai was a young man living with his family on Mokoia Island. One day, Tūtānekai and Hinemoa spotted each other, which was love at first sight. But unfortunately, Hinemoa’s tribe would not allow them to wed.
Heartbroken, Tūtānekai played mournfully on his flute as he sat on the island shore. Finally, no longer able to stand being apart, Hinemoa swam over to the island. When she reached it, she headed for the Wai-Kimihia hot pool to warm up.
While bathing, Tūtānekai’s worker came to fetch water. Hinemoa asked, “For whom is the water?” The worker answered, “For Tūtānekai”. Hinemoa snatched his calabash and smashed it. The worker returned to Tūtānekai to relay what had happened. He went to investigate, and he spotted his love. At last, the two lovers were reunited, and finally, Hinemoa’s tribe allowed them to wed.
Find more fun things to do in Rotorua, New Zealand
Lake Rotorua offers plenty of things to do on the water and on the shore. Discover more Rotorua, New Zealand, activities in our multi-day itinerary! See what to do in Rotorua at night, romantic couple activities, and more.
Enjoy the best views of Lake Rotorua at Skyline Rotorua. Take the Gondola high above the city centre and enjoy action-packed activities like the Luge and Zipline, before dining at a world-class restaurant overlooking the lake. Make your Rotorua trip memorable with Skyline.
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